METAL CROWN

Metallic crowns are made up of biocompatible metals such as nickel, cobalt , chromium etc. They are well adapted by the gums and adjacent tissues .

ADVANTAGES

• Less tooth structure needs to be removed
• no chipping off of crown material
• very economical
• long lasting 

DISADVANTAGES

• Metallic looks makes it very unaesthetic
• Cannot be used for front teeth

Our Opinion: After delivering thousands of metallic crowns we can say that metal crowns are very economical options for the posterior teeth which are not visible  and it delivers satisfactory function over the long period of time.

METAL CERAMIC CROWNS

BASIC METAL CERAMIC CROWN

These crowns are made up of two layers, the inner layer is made up of alloy metals and the top layer is made up of the ceramic. These are most used crowns in India.

ADVANTAGES

• Very economical
• Long lasting
• Mimics tooth color
• Easily available at all locations
• Most preferred in posterior teeth

DISADVANTAGES

• Ceramic layer can chip off 
• Color reproduction is not perfect
• Metal can show leakage 
• Gums can get discolored near crown margins
• Hand made
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CAD-CAM METAL CERAMIC CROWN

These type of crowns are fabricated by CAD- CAM process, which involves scanning of the dental models and fabrication of the metal layer beneath.

ADVANTAGES

• Precise fitting
• Accurate measurements
• No chance of human errors

DISADVANTAGES

• Costly
• More time is required to fabricate
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OUR OPINION: Dr.vaid and Dr. Shima have delivered thousands of CAD-CAM crowns. We feel these caps are better in fitting than hand made metal ceramic crowns but visually no difference can be felt between the different types. But obviously computer made caps come with warranty, better fitting and long lasting  results.

CERAMIC CROWNS

Ceramic crowns have revolutionized the dentistry in many ways. They have transformed the cosmetic dentistry with more predictable and esthetically superior outcomes. Ceramic crowns are entirely made up of tooth colored materials such as zirconia or lithium disilicate. There are many types of ceramic crowns.

MONOLITHIC CERAMIC CROWNS

The monolithic zirconia crowns are made entirely by the CAD- CAM process. These are made by cutting the full contour crown from a single ceramic block. They are are capable to withstand high forces up to 1400 Mpa. Therefore , they are ideal for the restoration of the molar teeth

ADVANTAGES

• High resistance to fracture
• High strength
• Biocompatible with surrounding tissues
• Highly durable
• No risk of ceramic chipping off
• Less reduction of tooth structure while preparation
• High strength in thin layers

DISADVANTAGES

• Color reproduction is not entirely perfect but optimum
• Cannot be used for the restoration of front teeth
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LAYERED CERAMIC CROWNS

These are also known as zirconia crowns. These crowns are made of the two layers. The first layer is made by CAD-CAM process by the computer and then the top layer is fabricated by layering the ceramic on the first layer. These crowns mimic the natural teeth because of the good optical properties. Zirconia crowns can be  used to restore the front teeth as well as posterior teeth. The color reproduction is good and they are quite economical.

ADVANTAGES

• Good color reproduction
• Mimics natural teeth
• Biocompatible with the gums 
• Economical

DISADVANTAGES

• Strength is satisfactory but not great
• Layered ceramic can chip off
• Optical properties may not be perfect as compared to other superior crowns

E-MAX CERAMIC CROWNS

The E-max crowns are made up of lithium disilicate , they produce superior esthetic results because of higher translucency than the zirconia crowns. Besides having natural color , they also have better strength than zirconia crowns. Therefore, they are preferred to restore the front teeth. 

ADVANTAGES

• Highly translucent 
• Excellent color reproduction
• High strength

DISADVANTAGES

• Expensive than zirconia crowns

Our opinion: Having delivered numerous full ceramic crowns in the Kharadi, Pune, I can say that Monolithic crowns are excellent choice for the posterior teeth, while as zirconia crown is economical alternative for the front teeth and E-max crowns are the best choice for the front teeth.